"Donnie" Darko Milicic had a very disappointing year last season, despite being part of an NBA championship club.  His playing time was very scarce, amounting mostly to scrapping away during garbage time.  He even broke his hand during the limited time he saw during the Finals versus the Lakers.

"I need 15 minutes in the first couple of games to show what I can do," Milicic said of the exhibition season. "I can't play two minutes like I did last year. Give me that, and coaches can then do what they need to do."

"We know that he's the future of this organization," said Ben Wallace, "but he's got to understand that nothing is given with this team. He found out that was the case as a rookie. It doesn't change now that he's had a year to get accustomed to the NBA and living over here."

With Mehmet Okur departed to Utah, his playing time should increase, but remaining frontcourt players are the Wallace's, Elden Campbell, Derrick Coleman and Antonio McDyess, five solid professionals.